Device for preventing robberies



Feb. 17, 1925.

R. B. LAWRENCE DEVICE FOR PREVENTING ROBBERIES Filed Feb. 24, 1922 &

INVENTOR ,jaja/L (AM m P Patentecl Feb. 17, 1925e RUBEN B. LAW'RENCE, OFBELLEVUE, PENNSYLV ANLA, 'AssIGNoR TO runner. LABORATORIES,INCORPORATED, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA A conronn TION' OF DELAWARE.

DEVICE FOB. PREVENTING RO'BBERIES.

. Application filed February 24, 1922. Serial No. 539,042.

To all whom ?lt 'may comcern: g v

Be it known that I, RUBEN B. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bellevue, County of Allegheny, Pennsyl- Vania, have inventeda new and useful Improvement in Devices for Preventing Robberies, ofwhich the following is a full clear, and exact description.

The present invention relatesto a device for preventing robberies andmore particularly to a device for producing an incapacitating gas. Thegas is contained 'in a receptacle which also contains a detonatingcharge and an electric igniter. iThe receptacle preferably resembles anelectric lanp bulb or other usual room fixture, so that it will beinconspicuous. The receptacle is preferably provided with a base whichallows it .to be removably'placed in a standard electric lamp socket. y

In the drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of theinvention, y

Figure 1 is aside elevation of the preferred embodiment of the device asit appears inserted in a lighting socketz F igure 2 is a sectional View,and

Figure 3 is a wiring diagram.

Referring to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a glassreceptacle 1 contains a glass container or containers 2 shown in theform of Vials which contain a gas forning liquid 3. The vials arehernetically sealed. The receptacle 2 also encicses a detonator 4,located between the Vials 3. Plaster of Paris or body of similarineterial 5 is used to hold the Vials and detonator in position.

The receptacle l is made in the form ot' the ordinary electric lamp bulband is either 'rosted or made of milk white glass to conceal itscontents. It is provided with a standard electric lanp base 6 whichscrews into the usual electric lamp socket 7 and makes electricalconnection therewith. The detonator 4 is of usual Construction andcontains a dctonating or explosive charge 8 and an electric igniter 9.The wires 10 from the igniter are connected to the base of thereceptacle so as to make electric connection with the socket 7.

The Vials 2 contain a substance which will produce an incapacitatinggas, preferably a gas which will completely incapacitate for ashort timebut which will not leave any permanent after effects. 'The usuallachrymose, sneeze, or vomiting'gases` or a combinationof them, may beused. The gas forming liquid known 'as dibrombenzine, which is alachrymose gas,` is pre'fex'ably employed as it will completely buttemporarily incapacitate a person. g

A bank or other place which is to be protected against robbery is wiredand the lighting sockets placed' in their y proper places. This work mabe done by the ordinary electricians w o will not know for what purposethe Wiring is to' be put in. The gas and detonating charge holdingreceptacles which look exactly like electrio lights may then be put inplace, without any outsider knowing that the bank is so protected.

In Figure 3 is illustrated diagrammatically the electric wiring. Anumber of the gas containing receptacles are shown as inserted in thelamp sockets 7 whichare connected to an electric circuit ll containing abattery 12 and a number of switches prefably in the form of push buttons13. The push buttons 13 may be placed'in any convenient places where anyone of a number of employees can readily reach them in case of anattempted robbery.

When one of the push buttons is pressed the detonating charges explodeWith a loud report which will attract the attention of the would-berobbers from their burglarious designs, giving the employees a chance todrop behind counters or other protections and to seize gas masks. Thedetonating report will be immediately followed by the incapacitatingVapors from the gas producing substance. The detonating charge willcompletely shatter the gas containers and will atomize the liquidinsuring a quick and thorough distribution thereof. Only a small amountof the liquid is needed as these gas producing liquids are now developedwhere a fracton of an ounce will incapactate all persons in an ordinarysize room.

While I have specifically illustrated and described the preferredembodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the make electricconnection with a standard i electric lamp socket, substantially asdescribed. I

2; A robbery preventng devce comprsixga receptacle resembling anelectric lamp b pacitatin "gas y onating c arge adapted to shatter therecept-acle and an electrc igniter for the detonating charge, and havinga base adapted to fit and make .electric connection with the usualelectric lamp Soket, substantially as described. e

3. A robbery preventing device comprising a frarigible container havingtherein an incapacitating gas producng sub'stance and also containing adetonating' charge adapted to'rupture the container and scatter the gasproducng substance the gas produ'cing substance substantiall surroundingthe detonatng charge in t e container, substantialdescribed. p 4:. Arobbery' preventing device comprising a gla container having therein anincapacitating gas producing 'substance and also containing a detonatingcharge adapted to rupture the container and scatter the gas producngsubstance, the gas producing' substance lying between the detonatingcharge in ap pearance and containing an incaproducing substance, adetand the walls of the container, substantially as described.

5. A robbery preventing device comprising afrangible containerresemblingaroom fixture and havin therein'an incapacitating gasproducing sustance, and also containing a. detonating charge adapted torupture the container and scatter the gas producing substance, the gasproducing substance surrounding the detonating charge in the contaner,substantially as described.

6. A robbery preventing device comprising a frangible container havintherein an incapacitating gas producng su stance and also containing a.detonating charge adapted t'o'rupture -the container and scatter the gasproducing substance, the gas producin substance surrounding thedetonating ciarge in the container, and a glass separating wall betweenthe detonator. and the 'as producing substanca, substantially asescribed.

7 A robbery preventin "device compris'- ing an outercontainen a tonatingcharge therein, and a'gas producng substance ina separate containerlying ,within the oute'r container between the detonating charge and thewall 'of the outer container, substantially as' described. V

8. A robbery pre ventingdevice compris ing an outer container, adetonating charge oontained therein, a plurality of separate `containerswithin the outer conta'iner, each containing a gas producing substance,the

inner container lying between the detonating charge and the walls of theouter container, substantially as described. V

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' RUBEN B. LAWRENCE.

